The Habit That Wreaks Havoc on Your Skin

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As a Cosmo reader, you already know that baking under UV bulbs can increase your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. (It also happens to be the second most common cancer for women in their 20s and the third most common for those in their 30s.) Scary stuff. But we also want to remind you indoor tanning can do a nasty number on your skin, setting you up for new moles wrinkles and fine lines (especially on your face) and discolored blotches, according to dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD, at the Cleveland Clinic. And all that can happen after just a few sessions.

Why are we bringing this up now? Well, we just heard about a new study published in the journal Cancer, which found that appearance-related concerns are more likely to get women to kick the tanning salon habit than warning them about their cancer risk. Researchers gave young women information on how indoor tanning negatively affects how they look. Subsequently, those subjects cut their tanning bed usage by 35 percent on average.

So if you go indoor tanning and appeals to your health haven't convinced you to quit, we'll try another tactic: just one session in a tanning bed can cause visible damage to your skin. And going multiple times means you're that much closer to looking like a leather cabana lady before your time. But we also understand that glowy skin is sexy. Which is why we've rounded up tons of info on how to get a beautiful—and more importantly, safe—tan. Check out the articles below: